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Influential scout Guerrero passes away

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By Evan Peaslee
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MLB.com |

TORONTO -- Prolific baseball scout Epy Guerrero passed away at the age of 71 on Thursday morning in his native Dominican Republic.

The man largely credited with building a stable of Toronto's most influential players in the 1980s and '90s was honored at Rogers Centre with a moment of silence before Thursday's contest vs. the Orioles.

Guerrero had a large influence in drafting in the Caribbean, most notably the Dominican Republic. He signed the likes of Tony Fernandez, Alfredo Griffin and Carlos Delgado, and he urged management to draft George Bell.

Every one of those players but Griffin resides in the Blue Jays Level of Excellence that adorns the facing of the fourth deck at Rogers Centre (Delgado will be added on July 21), with Bell being the only Blue Jays player to win the American League Most Valuable Player Award in 1987.

Guerrero was also responsible for signing Cesar Cedeno for Houston, and he spent some time scouting for the Yankees and Brewers as well.

The longtime Blue Jays scout and coach for part of the 1981 season, was inducted into the Dominican Sports Hall of Fame in 2008. He was with the Blue Jays from 1978-95.

Evan Peaslee is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.